Clasp



s.. E'. GATTELL.

(No Model.)

' GLASP.

Patented Dec. 27', 1887;"

waff/w N. PUERS. Phomuuwgmpnur. washngmn. D. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

SARAH E. oAfrrnLL, or Mnfrroon, ILLINOIS.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,475, dated December 27, 1887.

Application filed August 16, 1886. Serial No. 210,971. (No model.)

-aet description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification;

This invention relates to that class of claspsl for detachably connecting straps or otherarti cles to garments which comprise as their es` sential features a metal eye or loop attached at one end to the strap or other article to which the clasp is permanently connected, andA a movable headed stud or button adapted for engagement with the said loop or eye, and in which the aperture or opening of the latter is provided with a narrow extension or slit adjacent to the free end of the loop, of suitable width to -receive the shank of the stud, so that after one head of the stud has been inserted through the loop the Studshankmay be drawn into the narrow part or slit of the loop-open ing, so as to bind or hold the part of aA fabric or garment placed over the head of the stud.

My improvement comprises a construction of the loop whereby the latter is made iieXible to enable it to tightly engage the stud, while at the same time allowing it to yield or expand and thereby adj ust itself to thick or thin goods, and in which the slot of the loop is made narrower at its upper end to prevent the loop from becoming too readily detached fromthe stud, as will hereinafter fully appear.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims. v

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a preferred form of clasp embodying Iny invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective-view of the same when engaged with the marginal part of the garment. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clasp shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4. is aside elevation, partially in section, of a clasp embodying my invention, illustrating another means of movably connecting the stud with the loop. v

As illustrated in the said drawings, A is the strap to which the clasp is attached.

B is a metal eye or loop connected atits up-A per end with the said strap, and G is the stud or button adapted for engagement with said loop, said stud being provided with heads or iianges C c and a shank, c'. The loop B is provided in its upper part, or that adjacent to its point of connection with the strap A, with an opening, Z1, of sufficient size for the con veuient insertion of the head C of the stud G, and at the lower part of said loop, or at its end remote from its point of attach ment to the,l strap, is formed a narrow opening or slot, b', made of sufcient width to receive the lshank c of the said stud, but narrower thanthe diameter of the head of said stud. Saidl loop B is madevof flexible Wire, as illustrated, or otherwise constructed in such manner that its sides are capable of bending or yielding 'outwardly, aud the slot b is made narrower at its upper than at its lower end, so that when the stud C is inserted in the said slot b the sides: of the latter will yield or spread to allow the passage of the stud downwardly into the lower part of the slot, and will then close and act with a spring pressure to prevent the too easy disengagement of the stud from the loop.

The marginal part of a garment, as indicated, for instance, at l), Fig. 2, is connected with the strap A by placing the said marginal part of the garment over the head C of the stud C, then inserting the said head through the aperture b of the loop B, andthen drawing the stud downwardly into the slot b of the loop, so as to draw and hold the fabric of the garment closely about the head of the stud, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The elastic construction of the loop obviously allows the sides of the slot or slit-b to spring or yield outwardly during `the insertion of the stud, and to thereafter act with a constant pressure upon the material grasped between the loop and stud, so as to hold said material firmly and obviate liability of its slipping under a considerable strain upon the parts.

It is entirely obvious that a clasp comprising the loop B and stud C will be of practical,` utility when the said stud is entirely discon:` nected from the other parts of the device. In order, however, to insure the retention of the stud in proper position for use, I preferably connect said stud with the strap A and the upper end of the loop by means permitting the necessary movement of the stud to enable it to be engaged with and disengaged from the loop in the manner above described. One desirable construction in a device for this purpose is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in which the said stud C is secured upon a flexible strap, E, attached to or forming a continuation of the strap A, the said strap E being of sufficient length to enable the stud to be drawn downwardly .into the lower end of the slot b of the loop. Another means for connecting the stid with the loop is shown in Fig. 4. In this instance, Fis a metal plate provided with a longitudinal slot,f, in which the stud C is movably held by means of an extension, c2, of the shank c', which extension c2 passes through the slot f and a flange or disk, c, secured to the shank-extension c2 upon the side of the plate F opposite to that against which the flange c rests. In this exampletheloop B is connected with the upper end of the plate F by a hinged connection, b2, and the strap A is connected with the said plate F by a loop upon the end of the strap, engaged with an opening or eye,

2 5 f at the upper end of the plate, as shown.

In the operation of engaging with the edge ofa garment aclasp of thisform the lower end of the loop B is swung away from the plate F, the stud C thrust upwardly in the slotf until opposite the opening b of the loop and the marginal part of the garment placed between the loop and the plate over the head of the stud, the loop is swung toward the plate so as to carry the head through the opening b, and the stud then drawn or slid downwardly in the slot until it engages the lower end ofthe slot, so as to hold the garment therein in the manner before described.

Although the form of the device shown in Fig. L)cis one of practical utility, I prefer that illustrated in Figs. I, 2, and 3 as aii'ording the same result with a cheaper and more simple construction ofthe parts. In the particular construction of the parts illustrated in said Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the wire loop B is connected with the strap A by means of a metal plate, G, secured to the strap by an eyelct or rivet and bent into tubular form at its lower end to form an eye or a bearing, g, for the bent upper ends, b3, of the wire forming the loop, said wire being inserted through apertures b b4, formed in the eye g, so as to hold the loop from spreading at its upper part. 'This construction is novel, and inasmuch as it possesses particular advantage in connection with a wire loop,'it is herein speciiically claimed. In the particular construction of the parts shown in said figures, furthermore, the strap E is made continuous with the strap A by doubling the said strap A upon itself and securing the hinged plate G to the said strap at the upper end of the double'part.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, in a clasp, ofa headed stud, a spring-metal loop having the upper end of its opening enlarged to receive the head of the stud, the lower end of said opening of less breadth than the head of the stud and the intermediate portion of said opening normally narrower than the shank ofthe stud,and means, substantially as described, for connecting the parts, as set forth.

2. A clasp comprising a flexible wire loop or eye having a narrow slot at its lower end and provided with outwardly-bent parts b b at its upper end, a stud provided with two disks or flanges adapted for engagement with the said loop, a flexible strap connecting said stud with the loop, and a metal plate, G, attached to the strap and provided with a bearing, g, for the parts b3 b3 of the loop, said bearing g being provided with apertures b* b, through which the end parts of the wire coniposing the loop are inserted, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SARAH E. CATTELL.

Witnesses:

W. A. PATRICK, IRA L. Cox. 

